Digital Literacy Spend In Budget Remains Unaltered

The government will continue its commitment
to the Computers in Homes digital literacy programme and
fund a further 1,500 families in the next year.

Today's
announcement means that the programme, the brainchild of the
2020 Communications Trust, will be able to extend digital
inclusion to many families with school-aged children who do
not have access to a computer and internet in their
homes.

"We appreciate this on-going support from
Government, which ensures that thousands more school
children will get access to the internet and technology that
is a vital part of our country's future” said Laurence
Millar, Chair of the 2020 Communications
Trust.

"Technology is widespread in our lives, so New
Zealanders think that everyone everywhere has internet
access, but this is far from the truth," reports Millar.
"Last year's census showed that 62,000 households with
school-aged children do not have access to the internet at
home. This equates to one in six kiwi kids who don't get to
use the internet at home. Expanding the programme to 5,000
families annually would still cost less than 1% of the
Government’s investment in ultra-fast
broadband”

"Results from our programme have truly been
amazing,” reports Millar. “Research has shown that
graduates of the programme are more engaged with their
children’s learning, as well as succeeding in employment
and continued education. We are grateful for the funding
extension, and will continue working with Government to find
ways to include many more families in the programme. We urge
the Government to keep investing in digital literacy
alongside the infrastructure spend, to ensure all New
Zealand gets the expected economic and social
returns."

About Computers in HomesParents who
participate in the programme receive 20 hours of basic
computer training at their children's schools. This includes
word processing, emailing and using the Internet for
homework as well as for general family information and
keeping safe online. When parents complete their training,
they receive a refurbished computer to take home and a
subsidised internet connection for 12 months. Families have
access to free technical support for the first year for help
with any technical problems.

The programme aims to empower
parents to become actively involved in their children's
learning, as well as increasing their own employment and
continuing education opportunities.

Computers in Homes is
an initiative of the 2020 Communications Trust with support
from the Ministry of Education and Department of Internal
Affairs.

About 2020 Communications TrustThe
2020 Communications Trust is a charitable trust set up in
1996 to promote digital literacy, initially for Wellington
citizens, and in the year 2000 the scope was extended to
include all New Zealanders.

Our vision is for all New
Zealanders to be able to fully participate in a digital
world. In order to achieve this vision, everyone needs the
opportunity and the skills to become digitally
literate.

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